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The Tenuous Position of Kimmie's Eldest Son
 North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's death has put some international spotlight on his eldest son But he fell out of favor in 2001 when he was arrested at Narita International Airport in Tokyo traveling on a false passport. Kim senior then turned his attention to his younger sons Jong-chol and Jong-un by his third and favorite wife Ko Yong-hui. Kim Jong-nam regularly visited Pyongyang until his father had a stroke in summer 2008. But since Kim Jong-un was anointed heir to the hereditary throne in January 2009, he lived an itinerant life in mainly in Macau and Beijing and stayed well away from North Korea. Experts say he may not be safe and there have been rumors of assassination attempts by his younger brother, who is desperate to consolidate his position. I can handle things! I'm schmart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm schmart and I want respect! A source familiar with the internal North Korean affairs said China prefers Kim Jong-nam, who is pro-Chinese and reform-minded, and could end up backing him for the leadership in case the Kim Jong-un regime fails. Posted by: Steve White 2011-12-22 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=335734 |